CA committee wants draft to specify all under 18 years of age are children

Valerie Msoka

Committee number two of the Constituent Assembly have proposed for changes in Article 43 of the draft constitution by adding a sub section (h) to clarify that the term children will refer to all boys and girls under 18 years of age.

 

“We want the coming constitution to state the exact age under which one maybe considered a child,” said Valerie Msoka when reading the Committee’s minority report earlier this week.

 

She said disparities as to the age one is to be considered a child in the constitution and other country laws contribute denying girls their right to education among other rights. 

 

She said the Marriage Act denies women of their rights against gender based violence, employment and the right to safe delivery because at the moment, it allows, with consent of guardians, for girls to be married at the age of 16.

Msoka said that according to the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey of 2010, in every ten girls, four are married before the age of 18. 

 

She said that at least 37 per cent of women in the country were married at ages between 20 and 24 years in the years 2000-2011.

 

Msoka who is also the Director of the Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) noted that her Committee also wants changes in Article 42 Section (1) (a) of the draft constitution by adding clarifying words that will guarantee education for children from Standard One to Form Four. 

 

“We want the girls to have access to quality education that will prepare them for the future,” said Msoka.

 

She said children rights include the right to be protected, be provided with regular balanced meals, better health services and shelter, also, the right to participate in various activities of their age, freedom of expression and the right to be given a name and nationality.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN